Teachers worried over new rules
Iganga CAO Joseph Mukasa addresses teachers in Bulamagi Sub-county on Tuesday. Photo by Yazid Yolisigira
What you need to know:
Regulations. Teachers who absent themselves from school for three days are to be deleted from the payroll as they wait to give explanations why they were away.
Iganga.
A section of teachers in Iganga District are worried over new regulations announced by the chief administrative officer to dismiss those who absent themselves from school for three days.
Speaking to more than 500 primary teachers on Tuesday at Bishop Willis Core Primary Teachers College in Bulamagi sub-county, the district chief administrative officer, Mr Joseph Maira Mukasa, and the education department unveiled new policies by the ministry of Education aimed at curbing high teacher absenteeism.
Under the new policies, teachers who absent themselves from school for three days are to be deleted from the payroll as they wait to give explanations why they were away. Those who absent themselves from school for six days will be dismissed for absconding from duty.
Mr Mukasa said teachers should seek permission from relevant authorities to take leave to avoid losing their jobs as it is stipulated in the Public Service standing orders.
“A teacher who needs leave for one day should get permission from the head teacher and for three days they should get permission from the district education officer and for six days, the permission should be sought from the chief administrative officer,” Mr Mukasa announced.
A study conducted in 2014 by African Population and Health Research Centre, a local NGO, to assess the quality of education in Iganga District showed that teacher absenteeism was at 34 per cent, being the highest in the country at that time.
Mr Mukasa said the new policies are already in force and one teacher was suspended last month for taking a month away from school.
Some teachers welcomed the new regulations saying they would help punish those who have been failing their duties but their other colleagues expressed worry about the penalties.
“What if I fall sick and I become unable to inform you when the condition has worsened? What do I do having taken several days?” asked Ms Beatrice Magoola, a teacher at Nakalama Primary School.
Mr Simon Waako, another teacher at Bulubandi Primary School, said they should be given notice before dismissal.
